Thursday, November 27, 2014

Judo Grand Prix, Jeju 2014 - DAY 1

The last Grand Prix of the season, Jeju
2014, exploded into life on Thursday at the Jeju Halla Sport Complex as
hosts Korea were prominent throughout.

The second edition of the Jeju Grand Prix, which will
be promptly followed next week by the season-ending Tokyo Grand Slam,
has surged in popularity this year with 278 judoka competing from 42
nations.

On day one in South Korea the women’s -48kg, -52kg and
-57kg categories and men’s -60kg and -66kg kicked off the action in the
last but one IJF event of 2014.

Before the final block the organising committee held the opening ceremony for the Judo Grand Prix, Jeju 2014.

Mr. Mohamed MERIDJA, IJF Education and Coaching
Director, said: “Dear Mr. President, athletes, officials, colleagues,
ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you all to Jeju for the last IJF Grand
Prix of the year. The Korean Judo Association is hosting this event for
the second time and we have already seen a progression from last year.
On behalf of our President, Mr. Marius Vizer, I wish good luck to all
the athletes and declare the Jeju Grand Prix 2014 open.”

Mr. Mr. NAM Jong-Hyun, Korean Judo Association
President, said: “I welcome you all and especially the IJF Executive
Committee. I thank you all for your effort and support at this event and
throughout the year. This event offers the opportunity to promote judo
and, now that we are hosting second edition, we have even better
organisation than in 2014. To the athletes I say please do your best for
your country and your honour. Good luck and I hope you all enjoy the
event.”

Mr. KIM Jung-Haeng, President of the Korean Olympic
Association, said: “I welcome you all to Jeju for the second year of
this Grand Prix. I wish all the players to do their best throughout the
event. I encourage you all to share this moment and make new friendships
here on the beautiful island of Jeju.”

On Friday, the action continues on the tatami with four
weight categories competing. The women’s -63kg and -70kg judoka will be
joined by the men’s -73kg and -81kg athletes. World champion Clarisse
AGBEGNENOU (FRA) is the overwhelming favourite in the -63kg category
while home hopes will be pinned on Olympic champion KIM Jae-Bum (KOR) in
the -81kg category.

WOMEN

-48kg: French teenager wins gold

World bronze medallist Amandine BUCHARD (FRA)
defeated European bronze medallist Maryna CHERNIAK (UKR) to win the
first gold medal of the Judo Grand Prix, Jeju 2014. BUCHARD, 19, will
move into the world top 10 with the victory and will no doubt remain
there for the foreseeable future. The French starlet opened the scoring
with a waza-ari from a sode-tsurikomi-goshi and went back to the same
technique to add a second to secure the gold.

In the first semi-final Shira RISHONY (ISR) was
dispatched by a confident and composed Amandine BUCHARD (FRA). RISHONY
was penalised for a false attack after 30 seconds before her French
rival secured her place in the final by ippon after just 52 seconds. In
the second semi-final CHERNIAK profited from an indiscretion by Qingdao
Grand Prix winner Monica UNGUREANU (ROU) in a scoreless content. The
Romanian was separated from her opponent by a solitary shido after four
minutes to limit her chances of back-to-back Grand Prix medals as she
entered the repechage.

The first bronze medal was awarded to Asian Games
bronze medallist JEONG Bo Kyeong (KOR) against UNGUREANU. JEONG made
sure the medal would remain in Korea by defeating her Romanian opponent
by ippon with just over a minute gone. The second bronze medal was won
by a delighted RISHONY who outfought Glasgow European Open silver
medallist Melanie CLEMENT (FRA) who crucially received two shido
penalties in the final minute to separate the rivals after four minutes.

-52kg: CHITU goes unbeaten in Jeju

World silver medallist Andreea CHITU (ROU) earned her
latest Grand Prix title on the opening day in Jeju with a win in the
-52kg final over Kodokan Cup runner-up SHISHIME Ai (JPN). CHITU, who won
the Tashkent Grand Prix last month, fought 20-year-old Japanese judoka
SHISHIME for the right to stand on top of the podium and scored ippon
with an uki-goshi in the second minute without too much resistance from
her opponent.

The first semi-final saw Andreea CHITU (ROU) face
ADIYASAMBUU Tsolmon (MGL) in a rematch of the Tashkent Grand Prix final.
The outcome was the same as in Uzbekistan with the Romanian victorious
as a result of a hold down being so forceful that the Mongolian elected
to submit. In the second semi-final SHISHIME Ai (JPN) dismissed European
bronze medallist Gili COHEN (ISR) to guarantee her first appearance on
an IJF podium in 2014.

The first bronze medal was clinched by beaten
semi-finalist COHEN who defeated Glasgow European Open winner Lucile
DUPORT (FRA). COHEN scored a yuko from a ko-uchi-gake which proved to be
the only score of the contest as Israel’s women continued their
successful start in Jeju. The second bronze medal was won by former
European bronze medallist Laura GOMEZ (ESP) who defeated 22-year-old
World Team silver medallist ADIYASAMBUU. GOMEZ, who was coached by
former world bronze medallist AN Jeong-Hwan for the first time, executed
a neat turnover in ne-waza with control of her opponent to then apply
tate-shiho-gatame.

-57kg: World number one PAVIA defeats teammate for gold

World bronze medallist Automne PAVIA (FRA) had the
measure of teammate and Budapest Grand Prix silver medallist Helene
RECEVEAUX (FRA) along with the remainder of -57kg category on Thursday.
The Frenchwoman took control with a harai-goshi earning a yuko score
before adding a waza-ari with an osoto-gari which RECEVEAUX led herself
into. RECEVEAUX battled and registered a score as she countered a loose
effort from PAVIA for a yuko but the result was never in doubt.

In the first semi-final PAVIA downed former world
bronze medallist Vlora BEDETI (SLO) by the narrowest of margins. BEDETI
received three shido penalties which was one more than her French
opponent who failed to produce a score in their four minute contest. In
the second semi-final RECEVEAUX defeated Tashkent Grand Prix silver
medallist Camila MINAKAWA (ISR) by ippon after 51 seconds as she ensured
the final would come down to France’s -57kg duo.

The first bronze medal was won by former Rome European
Open silver medallist Ivelina ILIEVA (BUL) who secured a place on an IJF
medal podium for the first time. ILIEVA defeated beaten semi-finalist
MINAKAWA as a result of a solitary shido in a scoreless contest. The
second bronze medal was won by BEDETI as national champion Stefanie
TREMBLAY (CAN) was disqualified for receiving four penalties. World
number 28 TREMBLAY was penalised for the fourth and final time for going
out of the area as her Slovenian foe clinched the final spot on the
-57kg podium.

MEN

-60kg: Korea's KIM retains Jeju title

Reigning Jeju Grand Prix champion KIM Won Jin (KOR)
retained his title as he defeated All Japan University Championships
winner and IJF World Judo Tour newcomer KAWANO Ryoya (JPN) in the -60kg
final. 2013 world bronze medallist KIM, who is still only 22, won bronze
at the Asian Games recently and was successful in Jeju in an all-Asian
final. The classy young Korean scored a yuko to open the contest and
added a waza-ari which left no way back for his new opponent but judo
fans can expect much more from both men in the coming years.

In the first semi-final KAWANO Ryoya (JPN) blocked the
route of GANBOLD Kherlen (MGL) with a last-gasp effort as he scored a
waza-ari with three seconds left on the clock having trailed by a yuko
for four and a half minutes. In the second semi-final KIM bested Baku
Grand Slam winner Orkhan SAFAROV (AZE) by ippon after 73 seconds to
ensure an all-Asian final between Japan and Korea in Jeju.

The first bronze medal was claimed by top seed and
former world silver medallist DASHDAVAA Amartuvshin (MGL) who dominated
SAFAROV. The Mongolian would have expected more from his day but will be
pleased with beating one of the top seeds and most dangerous judoka in
the category for bronze. DASHDAVAA won with a waza-ari and yuko proving
too much for the Azerbaijan fighter to respond to. The second bronze
medal went to 22-year-old Abu Dhabi Grand Slam bronze medallist GANBOLD
Kherlen (MGL) who defeated Havana Grand Prix bronze medallist Ashley
MCKENZIE (GBR). Both bronze medals were captured by Mongolia with
GANBOLD successful as a result of a waza-ari score which went
unanswered.

-66kg: Japanese youngster defeats home fighter

Ulaanbaatar Grand Prix bronze medallist TATEYAMA Sho
(JPN) won the first IJF gold medal of his young career with victory
against 2013 Junior world champion AN Baul (KOR). Both judoka were
unseeded but made their presence felt all day long to earn the right to
decide the fate of the gold medal. TATEYAMA, 21, defeated AN, 20 – who
fights in Tokyo next week – by a single shido which was all that
separated the judoka after five minutes of regulation time.

In the first semi-final world bronze medallist and top
seed Georgii ZANTARAIA (UKR) was undone by the determined young Japanese
fighter TATEYAMA. ZANTARAIA was humbled on shido penalties with three
against his record and two against TATEYAMA who booked a place on his
second IJF medal podium of the year. In the second semi-final a similar
story unfolded as the more experienced and accomplished judoka was
denied by a hard-working fighter on his home continent. Baku Grand Slam
winner Colin OATES (GBR) fell to AN who registered two scores as the
former conceded a yuko and waza-ari but still maintained hope of his
first Asian medal in the repechage.

The first bronze medal was won by former European
bronze medallist OATES who won his country’s first medal in Jeju at the
expense of Baku Grand Slam bronze medallist Golan POLLACK (ISR). OATES
took the lead with a yuko and added a waza-ari by holding his opponent
down with a mune-gatame for exactly 15 seconds. The second bronze medal
went to Tyumen Grand Slam bronze medallist Anzaur ARDANOV (RUS) who won a
battle of attrition against ZANTARAIA. After a scoreless five minutes
the judoka required golden score. The rivals matched each other still
and were both at their physical limit. With two and a half minutes of
golden score on the clock, ZANTARAIA walked on to his Russian opponent
who caught him with ashi-waza for ippon as the appreciative Korean crowd
showed their appreciation for the immense efforts of both judoka.